Patriots Coach Mike Vrabel Issues Warning Over Team News Leaks

The New England Patriots replaced Jerod Mayo with former linebacker Mike Vrabel to bounce back from a disappointing season last year.

Patriots Coach Mike Vrabel Issues Warning Over Team News Leaks

Mike Vrabel (Image via AP)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel isn’t a fan of snitches. In a press conference following their disastrous preseason loss to the New York Giants, Vrabel doubled down on taking action against tattletales in his organization.

The former linebacker-turned-coach was taking questions after the Giants dropped the Patriots at MetLife Stadium. One of the reporters on the scene asked Vrabel whether the reports regarding Ja’Lynn Polk required season-ending shoulder surgery.

Polk is reportedly set to undergo season-ending surgery after suffering an injury in the team’s preseason opener against the Washington Commanders. Instead of answering the question outright, Vrabel added on explaining his distaste for leaks.

No. I don’t know. Other than, I’d like to find out where some of these [reports] come from. Some of these rats around here. We’ll figure that out.

In 2024, Polk appeared in 14 games with seven starts, finishing with 12 receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns. Though viewed more as a second-team option, both fans and analysts had high expectations that he would elevate his role this season and emerge as one of Maye’s reliable targets.

Mike Vrabel extended his thoughts on his social media handle as well. He tweeted a scene from the movie ’The Departed’ where the protagonist Frank Costello, played by Jack Nicholson, says “rats” onto the screen.

Mike Vrabel announced first wave of roster cuts ahead of deadline

The New England Patriots began the difficult process of trimming their roster on Friday morning, as head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed the release of 14 players during his press conference.

Mike Vrabel
Mike Vrabel (Image via New England Patriots)

Among those informed were R.J. Moten, Micah Bernard, Phil Lutz, Kyle Peko, Cole Fotheringham, Shane Watts, Philip Blidi, Ben Woolridge, Jordan Polk, Monty Rice, Sidy Sow, Jaheim Bell, Isaiah Bolden, and Tyrese Robinson.

Vrabel acknowledged the personal challenges that come with these moves, emphasizing the need to balance professionalism with respect.

Tough day. Again, we’ve talked about this, try to have a personal side to this and a professional side. And this is clearly the professional side of what we have to do. 31 other teams are going to do the same thing between now and Tuesday. So again, just try to do it as respectfully as possible, and continue to function.

The Patriots, like all NFL teams, must reduce their roster to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Vrabel noted that the process will remain fluid over the next several days, with decisions guided by ongoing evaluations, practice performances, and the potential addition of players from other teams. He added:

We’ll still practice, and so we’ll have to have guys to practice. We’re still having conversations on players, and a vision and ideas and things that we want to do and where we want to get to. The next 10 days will be very fluid.

Vrabel added that once the 53-man roster is finalized, the team will also construct a practice squad, mixing young developmental players with experienced veterans who could be activated during the season. The Patriots are looking to bounce back from a disappointing season with Vrabel at the helm.

Also Read: Jaxson Dart’s Medical Tent Reaction Turns Into Instant Meme